Uzbekistan Aims to Process 300,000 Tons of Copper Annually
Uzbekistan has unveiled an ambitious plan to process up to 300,000 tons of copper annually within its domestic market. Ural Yusupov, Deputy Minister of Mining and Geology, shared the country’s vision during the International Congress on "Mining Industry and Geology of Uzbekistan and Central Asia."
To achieve this goal, Uzbekistan is developing industrial clusters, technoparks, and joint ventures aimed at producing copper-based products with high value addition. One key project is the establishment of a copper cluster in Akhangaran, located in the Tashkent region. This initiative will focus on the phased production of semiconductors, microelectronic components, and other advanced materials, with raw materials supplied by the Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Complex (AMMC).
AMMC, Uzbekistan’s largest mining enterprise, is central to this strategy. In June, the company announced plans to significantly increase its copper output to 500,000 tons by 2031, up from its current production level of approximately 150,000 tons. This expansion will involve a $15 billion investment over the next decade.
The development will occur in three phases:
- Phase One (2021–2025): Boosts cathode copper production by 300,000 tons, supported by the "Yoshlik-1" deposit development.
- Phase Two (2024–2028): Raises total copper output to 400,000 tons.
- Phase Three (2026–2030): Achieves the ultimate target of 500,000 tons.
